Bathtub construction



June 8, 1965 R. STEVEN BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION Filed June 4, 1963 ,2Sheets-Sheet l 2,2 27 2 l ,22 il- INVENTOR. /Pd/ 4, 5751/571/ '4free/myJune 8, 1965 R. STEVEN BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June4, 1963 3,187,350 BA'THTUB CNSTRUCTIN Ray L. Steven, 219 N. Patton St.,Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed .lune 4, 1963, Ser. No. 285,273

7 Claims. (Cl. 4-177) This invention relates to bathing structures andmore especially to an improved bathtub construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical andinexpensive bathtub structure of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bathtub constructionhaving iiexible supporting features for the user by which the user maybe lowered into the tub and raised therefrom. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure according tothe previous objects and incorporating a resilient line of novel type.

Other objects and advantages Will appear and be brought out more fullyin the following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a bathtub incorporating theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the same showing the several componentsof the bathtub with the flexible element omitted.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective viewshowing the flexible element lof theinvention.

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view showing a modified feature of theinvention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the bathtub construction ofthis invention comprises a tub 1] of generally conventional form andconstruction; however, it is shown as being made of a thermoplastic. Thetub is supported on a suitable paltform 11 which is provided withrollers 12 for mobility in a room. The tub is provided with a drainageoutlet connection 13 to which is connected a flexible drainage pipe 14.

A plurality of shoulders 15 are provided along the upper edges of thetub wall and these shoulders are formed with apertures 16 in which arereceived centering pins 17 of a plurality of roller guide members 18.Members 1S are each formed with a semi-circular longitudinal groove 19in-which are .suitably positioned bearing ball rollers 20. Rollers 20provide bearing support for a plurality of tubular guide rollers 21which are interconnected at their ends to the adjacent lrollers by aplurality of steel spring Wire universal joints 22 which permit all fourrollers to be simultaneously rolled. A liner 23 is optionally providedfor the tubrand comprises asponge rubber sheet suitably formed to fitwithin the tub and including an apron portion as shown in FIGURE 3. Thisapron portion is formed with apertures 24 through `which shoulders 15 Yextend.

A flexible supporting element is indicated generally Yat 25 and islshown separately inV FIGURE 4 and has a United States Patent O 3,137,35@Patented Jurre 8, 1965 lCC A plurality of worn gear housings 31 aresecured on platform 11 and interconnected a plurality of drive rollers32. One of the rollers 32 is connected to a power drive shaft 33 througha coupling 34 of an insulated type. Shaft 33 is driven by an electricmotor indicated at 35, which is of reverse direction type, and providedwith an insulated reversing switch 36.l The side and end portions 27 and28 of the flexible element 25 have extension portions 37 which are woundon rollers 32 and are detachably secured to the sections by hooklessfasteners 38, of the type commonly called zippers This is for thepurpose of permitting the end sections to be removed and replaced whennecessary.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a variation comprising plastic sheets 40 which maybe laid over and secured to the iiexible element ZS as by suitablefasteners 41.

The operation of the invention should be apparent from the foregoingdescription. The user enters the tub in the usual manner and motor 35 isstarted by operation of switch 36. Drive rollers 32 will wind theVextensions 37 of the side and end edges 27 and 28 of the exible elementand the user will be raised to any desired level suchras indicated bythe doted line 26a in FIGURE 2. If desited, thercentral portion of theflexible element including the stiener board 30 may be raised to nearthe top of the tub to facilitate entering or leaving the tub. By reverseoperation of the motor 35 the user can be lowered in the tub, as will beclear.

It will be understood that the foregoing description is illustrativerather than restrictive of the invention and that changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the sub- ]'oined claims.

Two or more plastic sheets 40 may be used if desired and securedbyrzippers or snap fasteners. VGears 31 are shown as worn gears,however, bevel gears maybe used instead.

What is claimed is:

1. VA bathtub structure comprising, a platform; a tub supported on saidplatform; a drive roller system secured on said platform surroundingsaid tub; means for turning the rollers of said drive roller system ineither direction;

Va guide roller system extending along the rim of said tub; Y a fieXiblesheet element having a central portion and linear side and end edgeportions each secured to Vone of said drive rollers and extending oversaid guide roller system.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said guide i Y roller systemis continuous.

3. Structure according to claim 2 including coil spring universal jointsconnecting the ends of the guide rollers.`

6. Structure according to claim 1 including groove bearing means forsaid rollers.

7. Structure according to claim 1 including detachable groove bearingmeans for said rollers.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD v. BBNHAM,Primary Examiner.

1. BATHTUB STRUCTURE COMPRISING, A PLATFORM; A TUB SUPPORTED ON SAIDPLATFORM; A DRIVE ROLLER SYSTEM SECURED ON SAID PLATFORM SURROUNDINGSAID TUB; MEANS FOR TURNING THE ROLLERS OF SAID DRIVE ROLLER SYSTEM INEITHER DIRECTION; A GUIDE ROLLER SYSTEM EXTENDING ALONG THE RIM OF SAIDTUB; A FLEXIBLE SHEET ELEMENT HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION AND LINEAR SIDEAND END EDGE PORTIONS EACH SECURED TO ONE OF SAID DRIVE ROLLERS ANDEXTENDING OVER SAID GUIDE ROLLER SYSTEM.